Chapter 18

Maggie POV

It had been a few days since I spent some time with Zante, and if I was honest, I was missing him. I had watched Stacey leave the pack house and get in a cab, so I took this opportunity to walk around the territory.

I meet a few other Pack members on my walk and am surprised to see they have a school, shops and gym. I walk up a small lane and find a beautiful waterfall which looks like Zante may have started building something here. I sit on the stream's edge and dip my feet into the water. How could all this be hidden in plain sight? After an hour or so, I decided to head back home.

Passing the pack house, I turn and stare at the doors. Goosebumps pricked my skin as a cool breeze gushed around the house, and before I could stop myself, I walked up the steps to the door.

Quietly I push the doors to the pack house open and stand in the grand foyer. The last time I was here, I was still exhausted, so I didn’t have a chance to take in how elegant Zante’s home was. I knew they were here as I could smell them, but I hadn’t let them know I was visiting.

“Hello, you”, came a voice from behind me. I jump and quickly turn around. Kodan stood there with a happy but confused expression on his face.

I watch his eyes glaze over, and I glance at the open front door. Kodan notices my gaze and steps aside, allowing me to run. But before I get a chance, a hand slips around my waist, and I freeze.

“It’s me, Maggie; it’s okay.” Zante purrs behind me; I look up at him and try to regulate my frantic breathing as panic starts to wash over me. He keeps his hand tight on my hip and pulls me against him. I close my eyes and concentrate on Zantes touch and calm myself a little.

“You know I can make this easier for you if you want to try and be here with us.” Zante whispers against my hair. I really wanted to be here but my anxiety was making it hard, I frown as I struggle against allowing Zante to use his calling on me. I can feel Kodans eyes on me, but keeps his distance.

I nod into him, and a slow purr rumbles from Zante, instantly causing me to relax. I had forgotten how the calling worked as I fell back into his chest, my body becoming lucid and my mind clear. His arms scoop me up , pulling me tight into his chest and carries me to the lounge.

Laying down on the sofa, he pulls me up on his chest and keeps his arms wrapped around my body. His gentle purring lets me completely relax, and when I look up at him, he is leaning back with his eyes shut, and I watch as a slight smile tugs at his lips. It made me happy to see him this relaxed. I glance quickly around the room and see Kodan sat in the armchair across from us, eyes shut head resting in his hand.

I must have fallen asleep as when I open my eyes it’s dark and I rub my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I look up at Zante, who was fast asleep with his mouth hanging open slightly, I lean my head against his chest and listen to the rumble emitting from it. I gaze over at Kodan sat by himself, I feel a pang of guilt ebb through me and I look down at Zantes chest as I curse myself for being so scared.

I bring my gaze back to Kodan and bite my nails, suddenly realising his eyes were locked on mine. He smiles gently, cocking his head at me and gently pats his knee. A wave of need fills me and I go to move instinctively but I stop fighting my anxiety.

“It’s okay love, take your time” Kodan says gently as he adjusts himself in the chair hooking his legs over the arm and leaning his head on the other before falling back asleep. I fiddle with Zante’s shirt and lean back against him keeping my eyes on Kodan.

“Go..” Zante whispers as he runs his fingers through my hair, moving to the side slightly so I start to roll off “he needs you just as much as I need you” I cling to him slightly but Zante moves me from on top of him to his side.

I stand up biting my nail, glancing at Zante as he pats me on the bum to get me moving. I pad over to Kodan, glancing back at Zante once more, who was watching me through slitted eyes.

I crawl onto Kodan’s lap, curling myself up and running my fingers over his chest. Kodan inhales sharply but quietly and gently wraps his arms around me as I feel him relax. I move my fingers to his neck and feel the familiar sparks I got from Zante jolt through me and climb a little higher up chest.

“We know you are nervous about us, but please believe us. If you can trust Zante, you can trust us. We are his mates too therefore yours and will not hurt you.” He purrs quietly in my ear as he strokes my hair. I rest my face in Kodans neck inhaling his scent and allowing it to wash over me.

Suddenly my phone rings and I move to answer it, but Kodan’s arms keep me locked in tight as Zante answers it. He looks at me and I can hear my moms voice echoing through.

“Sorry, Sharron, she’s here with us and safe. No need to worry. We fell asleep.” Zante explains animatedly making me laugh causing Kodan to squeeze me tighter. I could practically hear the smile splitting moms face in half. “She’ll be back when she’s ready.”

He hangs up and places my phone down before coming over and gently kissing my forehead, followed by Kodans. He heads for the door as I hear a car pull up and the front door open and shut, I try to hear the whispers from the hallway but they were too quiet.

ZEV POV

I get out the car and head into the house when I’m smacked with her scent. Maggie was here, her sweet cinnamon and tree bark scent filled every part of me and I hurriedly kick my shoes off.

I head towards the lounge when Zante steps in front of me pressing his hand against my chest. I frown at him slightly and glance between his hand and his face.

“Take is easy she’s nervous.. Go sit on the couch, I’ll be there in a second” he purrs to me. I nod and enter the lounge with a lot less enthusiasm that I started with. I glance down and see Maggie curled in Kodans chest. I kiss Kodan on the top of his head and hesitate looking between them both. Kodan nods and wraps his arms tighter around Maggie as I plant a kiss on her forehead and to my surprise I hear a slight purr come from her.

I sit on the couch and Zante soon joins us again with some drinks and flicks the tv on throwing his feet onto the coffee table.

“Maggie there is a drink here for you if you want it” Zante calls to her and she shifts slightly in Kodans lap but doesn’t move.

“I think she’s asleep… I need to pee” Kodan whispers whining slightly. Zante stands and scoops Maggie up and brings her back to the sofa and sure enough she was fast asleep barely waking up when Zante moved her, but I hear a rumble coming from him as he walks over and I realise he’s using his calling. I feel anger bubbling inside at the thought of him forcing her to do this. After everything that had happened, everything she had been through he thought this was necessary.

“She gave me permission to use it” he whispers firmly sensing the anger through the bond. Kodans hand lands on my shoulder, he squeezes it gently and grazes it across my cheek before heading out the room. I lean into his hand, immediately relaxing and watch him leave.

My gaze turns back to Maggie in Zantes arms and she fidgets gently as he lowers his calling, motioning for me to lay back. He lays her on my chest and she tenses slightly and I freeze not wanting to alarm her.

Zante, while chuckling softly, lifts my arm which I had forgotten about and gently wraps them around her. Maggie remained still for what seemed like an eternity until one of her hands slides up my chest and onto the skin on my neck. I exhale gently as sparks shoot through me and I pull her closer to me causing her to dig her nails into my neck.

She purrs gently and rubs her face into my chest and her fingers hooking under the neckline of my shirt. I slide one arm out of my T-shirt and lift it over my head, then gently slide it out from between us. Maggie instantly crawls further up my chest, pressing her face into my throat, her soft warm lips lightly kissing me and I bring my arms around her sliding one hand up into her hair holding her against me.

“Im sorry” she whispers against my neck. I instantly feel guilt wash over me, I glance at Zante who had been sat opposite us now watching me intently and he nods. I shift Maggie square on my chest and cup her delicate face in my hands bringing her level with me, her eyes shut as I gently caress her cheeks with my thumbs.

I look into her eyes deeply for a moment, the ember in her eyes flickering as she gazed back, I could see she was uncomfortable but was fighting against it. I glance at her lips and she gasps slightly and I look back into her eyes before leaning in planting my lips softly on hers. I feel her hesitate and I continue lightly kissing along the edge of her lips until her lips find mine. She purrs into my mouth and I wrap my other arm around her waist pulling her up and into me as I deepen our kiss.

Her fingers travel over my chest up to my neck as her tongue gently presses onto my lips. I tighten my grip on her hair, greeting her tongue with mine and pull her closer to me, raising my hips a little to bring her over me. I hear a low rumble from Zante as the link opens.

“Don’t take it too far” Zante came through, his voice low and firm.

“I won’t” i reply quietly, as much as I needed her right now she also needed us to be patient.

At the sound of him rumbling, Maggie flicks her head round to Zante who was sat across from us leaning against the arm of the chair with his legs crossed. He nods and opens his arms and she slowly climbs off me and crawls over to him. She curls up against his chest and I watch him encase her in his arms and the feeling of completeness flooding through the bond.

“Bedtime” Zante purrs. “Let Sharron know she won’t be home tonight” I smile at him and do as he asks. Sharron was unbelievably happy to hear that she had chosen to stay.

After the brief call I meet Kodan at the bottom of the stairs and we both head up to Zantes room to say good night. As we enter, our mouths drop open slightly as we see Zante, laying in bed with Maggie on top of him clutching to his chest. He pats the bed either side and I exchange a glance with Kodan before we slip our clothes off, deposit them in the hamper and slide into bed with them.

Maggie slides a hand onto my chest and grazes my chest with her nails. I try to steady my breathing, as my heart pounds in my chest and take long deep breaths and place my hand on her arm stroking her skin gently with my thumb. I hear Kodan sigh and guess she’s done the same to him, and it doesn’t take long until we all fall into a deep sleep.